NTU Singapore Develops Silicon-Based Quantum-Communication Chip

(LaserFocusWorld) Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a silicon-photonics-based quantum-communication chip that is 1000X smaller than current quantum setups, but offers the same superior (and supposedly uncrackable) security that quantum technology is known for.
Roughly 3 mm in size, the chip, which is compatible with the existing fiber-optic communication infrastructure, uses quantum communication algorithms to provide enhanced security compared to existing standards. It does this by integrating passwords within the information that is being delivered, forming a secure “quantum key.” After the information is received, it is destroyed along with the key, making it an extremely secure form of communication. It is far smaller than current quantum communication setups that can be in some cases as big as a refrigerator, and in others, can take up the space of an entire room. The compact size opens doors for more secure communication technologies that can be deployed in compact devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smart watches.